QUERIE II.

Whereas you both agree (though with ſome difference) that the Civill Magiſtrate muſt Reform the Church, eſtabliſh Religion, and ſo conſequently muſt firſt Judge, and Judicially Determine which is True, which is Falſe: or elſe muſt implicitly beleeve as the Aſſembly beleeves, and take it upon truſt, and ſo conſequently is he the Head, Root and Fountain of the Supremacie of all Spirituall power, and hath the power of the Keyes of opening and ſhutting heaven gates, &c. Of which power upon a grudge (as 'tis ſaid) about his Wife, King Henry deſpoild the Pope, King Henry the 8. ſet down in the Popes chaire. and with conſent and Act of Parlament, ſate down himſelfe in the Popes Chaire in England as ſince his Succeſſors have done?

We now Querie, ſince the Parlament (being the repreſentative Common-wealth) hath no other power but what the Common-weale derive unto, The Commonweale, yea the world the head of the Church. and betruſt it with; whether it will not evidently follow, that the Common-weale, the Nation the Kingdome, and (if it were in Auguſtus his time) the whole world muſt rule and govern the Church, and Chriſt himſelfe as the Church is called, 1 Cor. 12.12?

Furthermore, if the Honourable Houſes (the repreſentative Common-weale) ſhall erect a Spirituall Court, for the Iudging of Spirituall Men and Spirituall Cauſes (although a new Name be put upon it, A new High-Commisſion. yet) whether or no ſuch a Court is not in the true nature and kind of it, an High Commiſſion? And is not this a reviving of Moſes, and the ſanctifying of a new Land of Canaan, of which we heare nothing in the Teſtament of Chriſt Jeſus, nor of any other holy Nation, but the particular Church of Chriſt? 1 Pet. 2.9.

Is not this to ſubject this holy Nation, this heavenly Jeruſalem, the Wife and Spouſe of Jeſus, the pillar and ground of Truth, to the vain, uncertain and changeable Mutations of this preſent evill world?

Who knowes not in how few yeares the Common-weale of England hath ſet up and pull'd down? The Parlaments of Englands wonderfull changes in Religion. The Fathers made the Children Hereticks, and the Children the Fathers. How doth the Parlament in Henry the 8. his dayes condemn the abſolute Popery in Henry the ſeventh? How is in Edwards the 6. his time the Parlament of Henry the 8. condemned for their halfe Popery, halfe Proteſtaniſme? How ſoon doth Queen Maries Parlament condemn Edward for his abſolute Proteſtaniſme? The preſent Parlament would have been eſteemed Hereticall in former times. And Elizabeths Parlament as ſoon condemn Queen Maries for their abſolute Popery? 'Tis true, Queen Elizabeth made Lawes againſt Popery and Papiſts, but the Government of Biſhops, the Common Prayer, the Ceremonies were then ſo high in that Queen and Parlaments eye, that the Members of this preſent and ever renowned Parlament, would have then been counted little leſſe then Hereticks. And oh! ſince the Common-weale cannot without a ſpirituall rape force the conſciences of all to one Worſhip, oh that it may never commit that rape, in forcing the conſciences of all men to one Worſhip, which a ſtronger arme and Sword may ſoon (as formerly) ariſe to alter.

QUERIE III.

Whether ſince you profeſſe to be Builders, The only true Matter for a true Church are living Stones. you have not cauſe to feare and tremble, leaſt you be found to reject the Corner ſtone, in not fitting to him only living ſtones? 1 Pet. 2. Of theſe living ſtones, (true Beleevers) the coſtly Stones of the Temple were types: and without true matter, which (as it is in all works in the World) it is impoſſible to build a ſpirituall Houſe unto God?

This matter, the One of you confeſſe and practice, the Other queſtions and mingles Sheep and Goats together, contrary to the ſpirituall nature of the Lord Jeſus, and his true Pattern; contrary to the nature of God, who is a Spirit, and will be Worſhipped by Spirituall Worſhippers; contrary to the peace and ſafety of any naturall Soule and conſcience, hardned in a dream of Fellowſhip with God, who ſaith to the ungodly, What haſt thou to doe to take my Covenant into thy mouth, and hateſt to be reformed? Pſal. 50.

QUERIE IV.

Whether in your conſciences before God, you be not perſwaded (notwithſtanding your promiſcuous joyning with all) that few of the People of England and Scotland, Few of the people of England or Scotland, living Stones. and fewer of the Nobles and Gentry are ſuch ſpirituall matter, living ſtones, truly regenerate and converted; and therfore, Whether it be not the greateſt Courteſie in the world, which you may poſſibly perform unto them, to acquaint them impartially with their conditions; and how impoſſible it is for a dead Stone to have Fellowſhip with the living God, and for any man to enter into the Kingdome of God, without a ſecond Birth? John 3.

QUERIE V.

Although the fame and ſound is great of Reformation, we Querie, Impoſſible to reforme the dead in ſin, the ſpiritually living, are only capable of reformation according to Chriſt. Whether a dead ſoule is capable of any Reformation, untill the firſt principle of Chriſtianity, Repentance (Heb. 6.6.) be found in him: otherwiſe, as a thouſand ſeverall renewed Forms of Apparell, alters not the condition of a dead man: or a thouſand new Formes of Poſtures of an Armie of Cavaliers cannot make a Parlament Army: So we Querie how poſſible that a perſon or perſons, viſibly in a ſtate of nature, dead in ſinne, in a ſtate of enmitie and oppoſition againſt God (Epheſ. Definitions of ought muſt not be from the corruption, but Inſtitution of it, according to which miſt be the reformation. 2. Rom. 8.) can ever pleaſe God, be viſibly maried to God, fight for him under the Banners of Love? &c. Allegations may be brought from the corruptions of the Church of the Jewes, and the Churches of Chriſt: but We doe not uſe to define a Man by his Diſeaſes, nor a Garden by Weeds, nor a Citie by a Tumult, or an Army by a Rout or diſorder, eſpecially when we treat upon an Inſtitution or Reſturation.

QUERIE VI.

Although you both profeſſe your Holyneſſe, Diligence, Zeale, Courage, Selfe-denyall, Patience, and the one of you the incomparable ſpirit of your Fathers in the worke of Reformation; yet we Querie, Excellent Witneſſes of Chriſt Ieſus, who never proceeded to a Churcheſtate Whether there hath not been as Holy, Able, and Zealous Men ſince the Apoſtacie; Men like Antipas, Rev. 2. faithfull Witneſſes of the Lord Jeſus (in what Light they ſaw) even to Death, who yet never came up to ſuch a worke of Reformation as you ſpeak of: Yea (without offence be it ſpoken) have there not been as excellent and heavenly Reformers as your ſelves and Fathers, whoſe profeſſed Reformation you now diſlike? Who ſhall outſhine many of the Waldenſian Reformers for Holyneſſe, Zeale,

Excellent reformers, whoſe worke now ſeems to be beſide the firſt Pattern, and this Age diſlikes, forſakes, &c.

One of the greateſt Parlaments that ever was, after all rejoycing and triumphing in it found Gods anger for their errors, in reformation of his worſhip.

patience? Where is, or hath that pretious man been found, who hath (for perſonall excellencies) outſhined Luther? and who ſhall o'retop thoſe glorious Cedars Biſhops, Doctors, &c. burnt for Chriſt Jeſus in Queen Maries dayes?

Yea, where the Church we grant to have been true (according to its Inſtiſtution, for the time of it) What Aſſembly, what Parlament can compare with that of David and his Captains of thouſands, Captains of hundreths, and every Leader, and all the Congregation of Iſrael from Shiſhor of Egypt, to the entring in of Hemath aſſembled together to reform the Worſhip of God, in that true, but Nationall. Typical, Church eſtate of Iſrael? What rejoycing, what playing was there of David and all Iſrael with Harps, Pſalteries, Timbrells, Cymballs and Trumpets, and yet how angry was God, what a Breach did he make? for David and all Iſrael tranſgreſt the due appointed Order, 1 Cron. 13. 1 Cron. 15.

QUERIE VII.

Since the Law was given by Moſes, A Nationall Covenant, and a Nationall Church, not found in the Doct ine of the Son of God but Grace and Truth came by Jeſus Chriſt, by whom (though God ſpake divers times and divers wayes to the Fathers) he hath now revealed his councell in theſe laſt times, Heb. 1. We Quere, where you now find one footſtep, Print or Pattern in this Doctrine of the Son of God, for a Nationall holy Covenant, and ſo conſequenty (though we conceive the one of you ſtumble at it) a Nationall Church? Where find you evidence of a whole Nation, Country or Kingdom converted to the Faith and of Chriſts appointing of a whole Nation or Kingdome to walk in one way of Religion?

If you repaire to Moſes, Such as hold a Nationall Church of God muſt needs diſclaim Chriſt and follow Moſes. conſult with Moſes and the old Covenant or Teſtament, we aske, are you Moſes or Chriſts Followers? or do you yet expect the comming of the Son of God to ſet up the Chriſtian Iſrael, the holy Nation, the particular Congregation of Chriſtian Worſhippers, in all parts of the world? 1 Pet. 2. Heb. 12. &c.

We further Quere, Whether a Nationall Covenant, lead not (in caſe, If one whole Nation, where ſhould we ſtop, why may not many and the whole world? &c. and as is practiſed) unavoydably to a holy Covenant of many Nations? 2 Pet. 10.20. yea, to a holy league or Covenant (in caſe of Auguſtus his Government) of the whole world, which ſhould then turne the Darling and Spouſe of God, between whom and it there is ſuch enmitie, that if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him? 1 John 2.

The Doctrine of Chriſt Jeſus tells us that, Acts 10.35. That in every Nation he that feares God, The nature of the true Church or Congregation of Chriſt Ieſus &c. Not every Nation that feares God. Chriſt Jeſus tells us that his Church may come together to break bread in One place, 1 Cor. 11. which Nations and Countries cannot poſſibly doe: Chriſt Jeſus tells us this his Congregation is now the Common-weale of Iſrael, inveſted with the true Kingly power of the Lord Jeſus, to put forth every wicked perſon (though King or Keyſar) from amongſt them.

We Querie, There cannot be 2 true kinds of Churches, no more then 2 true Parliaments. Whether it be poſſible there ſhould be 2 true ſorts or kinds of Churches, any more then 'tis poſſible there may be 2 true Parlaments in England, though many ſcores or hundreths ſhould be called?

There are indeed 3 ſcore Queens, and 4 ſcore Concubines and Virgins without number, which ſeem to imply (and that even in theſe times, as ſome alſo have interpreted) ſeverall kinds of Congregations or Churches, Severall ſorts of Churches like Brazen, Silver, and Golden Candleſticks. and yet Chriſts Dove is but one, and the only one of her motherr, Cant. 6. The Light of much Truth may ſhine forth on the brazen Candleſticks of ſtrong Nationall Churches, maintained and held up by the ſeeming ſtrong Sword of Steel in an Arme of Fleſh &c. There may be ſilver Candleſticks more refin'd and pure in reſpect of the Matter of which they are conſtituted, viz. godly perſons, &c. But Chriſt Jeſus only walks in the midd'ſt of his Golden Candleſticks, Gathered and Governed after the Golden Inſtitution of Chriſts Word, which is like fine Gold, Rev. 1. Pſa. 19.

Againe, we aske, A National Religion muſt rack Soules and Bodies, Whether in the Conſtitution of a Natinall Church, it can posſibly be framed without a racking and tormenting of thè Soules, as well as of the Bodies of perſons, for it ſeems not posſible to fit it to every conſcience: ſooner ſhall one ſuit of Apparell fit every Body, one Law preſident every Caſe, or one Size or Laſt every Foot?

Laſtly, The dangerous conſequences of it. Whether it be not the cauſe of a world of Hypocritets, he Soothing up of people in a Formall State Worſhip to the ruine of their Soules; the ground of Perſecution to Chriſt Jeſus in his Members, and ſooner or later, the kindling of the devouring flames of Civill Warres, as all Ages teſtifie?

QUERIE VIII.

Whether, No Wars for Chriſt but Chriſtian or Spirituall. although (as is expreſt) the godly in the 3 Kingdomes deſire a Reformation: yet ſince the Lamb of God and Prince of Peace hath not in his Teſtament given us a Pattern, Precept or Promiſe, for the undertaking of a civill War for his ſake; we Querie how with comfort to your Souls you may incourage the Engliſh Treaſure to be Exhauſted, and the Engliſh Blood to be ſpilt for the Cauſe of Chriſt? We readily grant the Civill Magiſtrate armed by God with a civill Sword (Rom. 13.) to execute vengeance againſt Robbers, War lawfull in civill caſes. Murtherers, Tyrants, &c. Yet where it meerly concerns Chriſt, we find, when his Diſciples deſire vengeance upon Offenders, Luke 9. he meekly anſwers, You know not what ſpirit you are of, I came not to destroy Mens Lives, but to ſave them. Chriſt Ieſus forbids fighting for his ſake. If ever there were cauſe for the ſervants of Chriſt Jeſus to fight it was then, when (not his Truth, or Servants, or Ordinances, but) his own moſt holy Perſon was in danger, Math. 26. yet then, that Lamb of God checks Peter beginning to fight for him, telling him, that all that take the Sword ſhall periſh by the Sword, for with one Requeſt to his Father, he could have been reſcued by more then 12 Legions of Angells: The Reaſons of it. He renders the Reaſon of his unwillingneſſe to have Fighting for his ſake, which was his Fathers good pleaſure in the fullfilling of the Scripture: Unto which alſo may be added, Iohn 18.36. My Kingdome is not of this world, if my Kingdome were of this world, then would my ſervants fight that I ſhould not be delivered, &c.

If it be ſaid his Kingdome then was not of this world, but now it is, or ſhall be: then was the hower of his Suffring, but now of his ſervants Reigning: Chriſts ſufferings to be fill'd up by his Followers. we Querie, What filling up of the ſuffrings of Chriſt Paul ſpeaks of, Col. 1. when he mentioneth that which is behind of the ſufferings of Chriſt? What means that generall Rule of the Lord Jeſus Luke 9. If any man will follow me, let him take up his Croſſe or Gibbet: and that of Paul, 2 Tim. 4. all that will live godly in Christ Ieſus muſt ſuffer perſecution?

We Querie (if Securitie may be taken by the Wildome of the State for civill Subjection,) The conſciences of Idolaters not to be oppreſt by the Sword, why even the Papiſts themſelves and their Conſciences may not be permitted in the World? For otherwiſe, if Englands Government were the Government of the whole World, not only They, but a world of Idolaters of all ſorts, yea the whole World muſt be driven out of the World?

We Querie, Whether the Common Body of Proteſtants, impenitent and unregenerate, be not further off Salvation, and lye not under a greater guilt (like Chorazin and Bethſaida) then does the body of ignorant Papiſts? Ignorant Papiſts not ſuch great ſinners as knowing Proteſtants. And we humbly deſire it may be deeply pondered what ſhould be the kindling of the Jealouſie of God, to poure forth the Blood of ſo many Thouſands of Proteſtants, by the bloody hands of the Papiſts (ſince moſt juſt He is and righteous in all his Judgements) whether or no the Lawes inacted, and Violence offred even to the Conſciences of the Papiſts themſelves, have not kindled theſe devouring flames?

'Tis true, the Propheſies are great concerning Chriſt and Antichriſt throughout the Prophets and the Kevelation, but can you ſufficiently demonſtrate theſe to the conſciences of men? The Propheſies of Daniel and John not ſo eaſity demonſtrated. Are you thoſe our bleſſed Prophets which can tell us how long? Pſal. 74.

Can you clear up the myſteries of Daniels 2300 dayes, Dan. 8. Daniels 7 weeks and 3 ſcore and 2 weeks, his one week, and his halfe week, Daniels and Johns myſticall Numbers. Dan. 9? His time, times, and half a time, his 1290 dayes, and 1335 dayes, Dan. 12?

Can you unlocke thoſe myſticall numbers of Iohns 42 moneths, 1260 dayes; the 3 dayes and a halfe, Rev. 11.12. the time, times, and halfe a time, Rev. 12. and the thouſand yeare, Rev. 20. with divers others, which may eſtabliſh the Judgements and Conſciences of Men, and give them Warrant whereon to venture their Souls, and ſhed their Bloods, for the preſent deſtruction of Pope and Popery (not by the breath of Chriſts mouth, and the Sword of the Spirit, but) by the breath of murthering Canons, and a flaming Sword of ſteele?

Otherwiſe, we Querie, The wonderful ſlaughters of Papiſts and Proteſtants in the famous warres of the Waldenſians. Whether the blood of ſo many hundreth thouſand Proteſtants, mingled with the blood of ſo many hundreth thouſand Papiſts, as was ſpilt ſome hundreth yeares in the Waldenſian warres, when all the Proteſtant partie that took the Sword periſhed with it, be not a warning to us their offſpring?

'Tis true, Iohn tells us of Chriſts great Battells againſt the Kings of the Earth, The great battels of Chriſt Ieſus yet to be fought. againſt the Beaſt and falſe Prophet againſt Gog and Magog: but where ſpeaks he of other Ammunition and Artillerie, uſed by the Saints, but what we find in Pauls Chriſtian Magazine Epheſ. 6? Where read we of any other Horſe and Armes but thoſe all white? Rev. 19. And yet the Lamb ſhall have the Victorie over the Beaſt, and falſe Prophet, and over Gog and Magog in the appointed ſeaſon. Gods children have been ſucceſſefull witneſſes againſt the Abominations &c. but never did well in Church Reformation, which their children after them diſcover, to vary from the Pattern.

QUERIE IX.

You both profeſſe great Sufferings, &c. We Querie, Whether any of the Sufferings of Gods Witneſſes ſince the Apoſtacie, have been only right againſt the darke part, the Inventions, Abominations and Uſurpations of Antichriſt, according to Rev. 11? As for the light part, who ſees not but to this day the Childrens Reformations in new changes condemn their Fathers, whoſe Zeale and Patience againſt the dark part, have hitherto exceeded the Childrens.

We Querie, Whether the finiſhing of the Teſtimonie, with the ſlaughter of the Witneſſes, and their 3 dayes and halfe laſt great oppreſſion be over and paſt, that ſo the light part may ariſe in its brightneſſe? Martyrs, that is, Witneſſes, not peculiar to thoſe that die for Chriſt. And though you commonly and only call thoſe Martyrs, who loſt their lives for Jeſus: yet we alſo Querie, Whether Martyrs, that is Witneſſes, Rev. 11. be not applyable to all the ſervants of Chriſt, who Witneſſe againſt any part of the Beaſts Kingdome and Tyranny, although they never Witneſſe to the Death?

QUERIE X.

Since you report your oppoſing and ſuppreſſing of Hereſies, and glorious ſucceſſe, &c. We Querie, Whether that be a demonſtrative argument from the Scriptures, for a Truth of a Church, or Government of it, ſince even the Church of Rome may boaſt of the ſame againſt many Schiſmes and Hereſies, and doth try umph with wonderfull ſucceſſe, even againſt the Truth, and the Witneſſes of it, according to Daniel and Johns Propheſies? Dan. 11. Rev. 13.

Thus it pleaſed God in his Providence to turn the ſcales of Victorie (with a reliefe of their Armies) to the Idolatrous Iſraelites and Edomites againſt the Moabites, God ſometimes gives great ſucceſſe of Victorie, even to Idolaters. 2 Kings 3. and miraculouſly to deliver Idolatrous Apoſtate Iſrael from the mighty Armies of the Syrians, 2 Kings 7. Thus he alſo rewarded hypocriticall Jehn for his temporall ſervice in deſtroying Ahabs houſe with a temporall Honour to the fourth generation, though himſelfe and his continued in the Schiſme, Apoſtacie and Idolatry of the houſe of Iſrael.

We pray you alſo to call to mind how it pleaſeth God, out of the bottomles Ocean of his Goodneſſe, to cauſe his Sun to ſhine, and his raines to fall upon the righteous and the wicked; and time and chance (ſaith Salomon) happens unto all, and one event.

It pleaſed the Lord to heare the Prayers of wicked Ahab, God ſometimes heares the prayers of legall cries of Idolaters, and the Dwells themſelves. and to remit his temporall Affliction upon his temporall Humiliation.

Thus the Lord Jeſus heard the prayers of the Divels themſelves, Luke 8. Upon the cry of the Idolatrous Mariners God mercifully provided to anſwer their prayers, and ceaſe the Storme by the caſting out of Jonah. Thus upon the external legall Humiliation of Ninivie, it was reprieved and ſpar'd a ſeaſon; and Sodome had not been burned to aſhes, but had continued untill Chriſts time, upon a ſuppoſition of their legall Humiliation, Matth. 11.

Thus although the Idolatrous Aſſirians feared Jehovah, Iudgements taken off from the Aſſyrians, upon the leaſt ſhadow of Gods worſhip. and ſerved their gods (2 Kings 17.) yet we hear no more of the Lions amongſt them when the King of Aſſyria had taken order for one of Iſraels Idolatrous Prieſts, to teach the Aſſyrians ſomthing of the manner of Gods ſervice.

We Querie, Whether all theſe Inſtances amount to more then Evidences of the infinite Mercies, Goodneſſe and Patience of God but are not proofs of their Worſhipping of God according to his Ordinance, that their Inſtitutions were from him, and their Reformations according to his Appointment?

Yea, we further Querie, Whether the power of godlineſſe, ſhining forth in perſons may evidence their ſtate and Worſhip good? The power of godlines may ſhine in ſome perſons living in great prophanations of Gods worſhip. You both confeſſe the great profeſſion of the power of godlineſſe in England: yet we beleeve the one of you acknowledge the Church of England as a Nationall Church not true; and both confeſſe the Government, Governours, and the Common Prayer (the Service and Worſhip of it) to be abominable. Yet it is confeſt that Englands falſe National Church, with her Biſhops, Common Prayer, ceremonies &c. had more evidence of the power of godlines in her Children, then was to be found amongſt the Scotch, French Dutch, who pretend a Reformation purer. It ſeems therfore evident, that neither oppoſing of Hereſies, nor ſucceſſe in Victories Deliverances, nor power of godlineſſe in ſome perſons, can evidence and prove their State and Worſhip to be right and pleaſing unto God, according to his Ordinance in Chriſt Jeſus.

QUERIE XI.

Since you both ſeem to magnifie the Seales of Baptiſme, and the Lords Supper, with a difference and excellency above other Ordinances, We Querie where the Lord Jeſus appointed ſuch a difference and diſtinction? And whether there was not as full Communion practiſed by the firſt Chriſtians in the Word, Prayer, and Communitie, as in the breaking of Bread? Acts 2.42.

Further we Querie, ſince Baptiſme is one of thoſe Fundamentalls, Heb. 6. and every one that will be ſaved is bound to prove his Faith and his Baptiſme true (Mark. 16.16. he that beleeveth and is baptiſed ſhall be ſaved.) We Quere, how a Baptiſmes or 2 Great Seals can be true in the Kingdome of Chriſt Jeſus, any more then 2 Great Seales can be true in the Kingdome of England? And whether a Chriſtian Commiſſion, Pattent, Pardon, Writ, can be truly ſeal'd (as is maintained) from Rome, any more then a civill Commiſſion, Pattent, Pardon or Writ can be truly Sealed at Oxford?

To inſiſt upon a late inſtance: ſince the Biſhops power and Calling is condemned as Antichriſtian, how can we evidence the Seale of Baptiſme true, which we have received from them?

Furthermore, ſince a true Baptiſme giveth Right to all the Ordinances of Chriſt Jeſus, we Querie, how any Proteſtant or Papiſt, whoſe Baptiſme you acknowledge to be true, can be denied Communion in the Supper alſo, according to 1 Cor. 12.12. By one ſpirit are we all baptized into one body, and conſequently into the participation of the Ordinances therof: and if ſo, we Querie how farre off Rome and the Pope himſelfe is from our boſomes?

QUERIE XII.

Since you both profeſſe to want more Light, and that a greater Light is yet to be expected; yea, that the Church of Scotland may yet have need of a greater Reformation, &c. we Querie, how you can profeſſe and Sweare to Perſecute all others as Schiſmatiques, Hereticks, &c. that beleeve they ſee a further Light, and dare not joyn with either of your Churches? Whether the Lambes Wife have received any ſuch Commiſſion or Diſpoſition from the Lamb her Husband, ſo to practiſe? Whether (as King JAMES once wrote upon Re. 20.) it be not a true mark and character of a falſe Church to Perſecute? It being the nature only of a Wolf to hunt the Lambs and Sheep, but impoſſible for a Lamb or Sheep, or a thouſand Flocks of Sheep to perſecute one Wolfe: we ſpeak of ſpirituall Sheep and ſpirituall Wolves: for other VVolves againſt the Civil State, VVe profeſſe it to be the Dutie of the Civill State to perſecute and ſuppreſſe them.

And laſtly, whether the States of Holland who tollerate, though not owne (as you ſay) the ſeveral Sects amongſt them which differ from them, The States of Holland in permitting other conſciences, obey the Command of Chriſt of permitting the Tares. & are of another conſcience & woriſhp, whether or no they com not neerer the holy Pattern & commād of the Lord Jeſus, to permit the tares to have a civill being in the field of the world, untill the harvest the end of it. Mat. 13?

VVhether thoſe tares can poſſibly be taken for Hipocrites in the Church, or Scandalous perſons in the Common weal, but are moſt properly falſe worſhippers, and in eſpeciall, and punctually intended by the Lord Jeſus Antichriſtians, the Children of the wicked one, oppoſite to the true Chriſtians, the Children of the Kingdome?

VVhether for this very Truth which thoſe States profeſſe, Noctate for the time bath been bleſt by God as that to admiration. beyond either England or Scotland, it hath not pleaſed the Lord to proſper the State, above any other State in the word, for the time, ſince ſuch their wiſe Permiſſion? Whether there can poſſibly be expected the leaſt look of Peace, in theſe fatall Diſtractions and Tempeſts raiſed, but by taking Councel of the great and wiſeſt Polititian that ever was, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in this particular?

VVe know the Allegations againſt this Councell: the head of all is that from Moſes (not Chriſt) his Pattern in the typicall Land of Canaan, the Kings of Iſrael and Iudah, &c. The danger and miſchiefe of bringing Moſes his Pattern into Kingdomes now ſince Chriſt Ieſus his comming. We humbly deſire it may be ſearched into, & we beleeve it wilbe found but one of Moſes ſhadows, vaniſhed at the comming of the Lord Jeſus: yet ſuch a ſhadow as is directly oppoſite to the very Teſtament and coming of the Lord Jeſus. Oppoſite to the very nature of a Chriſtian Church, the only holy Nation and Iſrael of God. Oppoſite to the very tender Bowels of Humanity, (how much more of Chriſtianity?) abhorring to poure out the blood of Men meerly for their Soules beliefe and worſhip. Oppoſite to the very Eſſentialls and Fundamentalls of the Nature of a Civill Magiſtracie, a Civil Common-weal or combination of Men, which can only reſpect civill things. Oppoſite to the Jewes Converſion to Chriſt, by not permitting them a civill life or being. Oppoſite to the civill Peace, and the lives of Millions, ſlaughter'd upon this ground, in mutuall perſecuting each others Conſcience, eſpecially the Proteſtant and the Papiſt. Oppoſite to the Souls of all Men, who by perſecutions are raviſhed into a diſſembled Worſhip, which their Hearts imbrace not.

Oppoſite to the beſt of Gods ſervants, who in all Popiſh and Proteſtant States, have been commonly eſteemed and perſecuted, as the only Schiſmaticks, Hereticks, &c. Oppoſite to that Light of Scripture which is expected yet to ſhine, which muſt by that Doctrine be ſuppreſt as a new or old Hereſie or Noveltie. All this in all Ages experience teſtifies, which never ſaw any long liv'd Fruit of Peace or Righteouſneſſe to grow upon that fatall Tree.